The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Tuesday announced an increase from two COVID-19-canceled classes to 10 for a full suspension of in-person teaching at senior high school level and below.

Under current rules, all in-person classes at a school must be suspended for at least 10 days if two classes are made remote following the exposure of staff or students to COVID-19.

However, Education Minister Pan Wen-chung (???) said at a press briefing held by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) Tuesday that, beginning Wednesday, a full suspension would only be ordered if over one-third or more than 10 classes are made remote.

In a class in which a teacher or a student is confirmed to contract the virus, all class members and staff will be required to quarantine at home for at least 10 days and test negative before resuming in-person teaching.

Students and teachers who are not in the same class as a confirmed COVID-19 infection but who have come into contact with an infected individual must not attend in-person classes for one to three days, and also conduct self-health monitoring at home.

For universities, colleges and junior colleges, an institution will only need to fully suspend in-person teaching if one-third of its classes have a teacher or a student who either tests positive for COVID-19 or has been ordered to undergo a 10-day quarantine after being listed as a close contact of an infected individual.

The revisions come after Premier Su Tseng-chang (???) asked the MOE to address complaints from parents regarding class disruption due to a continuing rise in domestically transmitted COVID-19 infections.

According to Pan, the changes were made in light of the fact that “most students diagnosed are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms,” as well as due to the burden remote learning placed on parents.

According to the statistics compiled by the MOE Tuesday, there are currently 237 schools in 18 counties and cities partially or fully holding online classes, including 38 pre-schools, 92 elementary schools, 30 junior high schools, 37 senior high schools, and 40 tertiary education institutions.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel